Paper short abstract:

Representations of the other in India seem to have always been distinct from the ones found in Europe. With this analysis, I suggest that the construction of otherness can be subjected to processes and results as distinct as the body of meanings employed in the encoding of the information perceived.

Paper long abstract:

The representation of the other in India seems to have always been significantly distinct from the one found in Europe. As in present days (as far as it has been possible for me to verify over my fieldwork research periods since 2004), while the set of dichotomizing dialectics between Indians/others does not seem to raise interest, their representations being limited to "foreigner", the "non-Indian", several authors confirm that until the 1800s, are found no signs of interest in approaching a systematic discussion of behaviours, practices or beliefs of the many "foreigners" or "foreign religions", of "Muslims" in particular or even the indigenous "Buddhism". With this analysis, I suggest that the representational construction of otherness can be subjected to processes and results as distinct as the body of meanings employed in the logic to the encoding, storage and retrieval of the information perceived. Becoming evident as a mark of European originality, the systematization and imposition (reason why it can be designated as project) of a hierarchized taxonomic objectification of otherness through racial signifiers.